Sword and Strength

With Lower Rank Magic bolstering him, Kuro was simply too fast. Russell, an elite Body Integration Rank knight, had no time to defend himself.

Kuro grinned savagely, already imagining the frail Star Knight being cleaved in two by his greatsword.

A metallic clang rang out, reaching everyone's ears.

Dark and the barbarians around him stared wide-eyed. A Star Knight had actually blocked Kuro's strike.

"C-Captain..."

Russell stammered. The pressure from a Lower Rank powerhouse had left his legs trembling; he had nearly collapsed on the spot.

Master turned his head away, still as expressionless as ever, and said coldly, "Get behind me."

"Yes!"

Russell straightened up and retreated, joining Darwin and the others.

Darwin and the others only came to their senses when Master spoke. Everything had happened so quickly that all they felt was a gust of wind across their faces before Master appeared in front of Russell.

"Sir Master, what happened just now?" Darwin asked hurriedly.

Master's lips curled as he looked at Kuro, his expression growing colder. Clearly, he had pieced together what had happened from the corpses on the ground.

"I made a little breakthrough."

"Could it be that you've reached Lower Rank Magic?!"

Darwin looked excited. He had known for a long time that Master had been troubled by his inability to break through to the Lower Rank. How could he not be thrilled now that Master had finally made progress?

"How interesting. You clearly have the strength of a Lower Rank fighter, yet the magic within you remains at Source Gathering Rank. This is truly fascinating. What exactly did you do?"

A grin spread across Kuro's savage face. He had been wondering how the man in front of him could stand against him.

"That's not something you need to know. Now I'm going to avenge my men!"

Master's brown eyes fixed on Kuro, filled with murderous intent.

"Heh. You think you can?"

Kuro's expression grew more arrogant. So what if this Star Knight had blocked one of his attacks? He could crush him with ease!

"Die!"

Kuro raised his barrel-thick arm and brought his greatsword down again.

As the blade swept toward him like a storm, Master remained calm. Gripping his longsword, Moonlight, in both hands, he raised its blade to block the strike.

Another resounding clang rang out. Master had blocked Kuro's attack again!

But Master staggered back several steps before regaining his balance. Clearly, Kuro had put even more strength into that blow.

Darwin and the others behind him couldn't help holding their breath. They had heard what the barbarian said: Master was still a Source Gathering Rank knight!

Yet Kuro had already reached the Lower Rank!

They had only heard that some Source Gathering Rank knights could stand against Lower Rank knights. They had never expected to witness it with their own eyes.

"Tell me how you did it, and I might consider sparing your life."

The ugly smile disappeared from Kuro's face as he spoke coldly.

Having had his attacks blocked twice by Master, a Source Gathering Rank knight, Kuro was growing angry. Still, he held back, because Master might yet prove useful.

"That's right, Star Knight. If you tell me your secret, I'll let you go."

Dark had been watching from the sidelines the whole time. Without the Ice Spirit Crystal, he couldn't immediately advance to Source Gathering Rank. So he was just as eager to learn how Master could stand against a Lower Rank powerhouse. Perhaps it could help him, too.

Of course, he was thinking something else entirely: Even if you tell me, I'll still kill you. I'm the only one who needs to know this secret.

And then there's Kuro. Once we get back, I'll find a chance to finish him off. His Ice Spirit Crystal won't be easy to come by.

Darwin and the others looked toward Master, who had remained silent. Their expressions were conflicted.

They desperately wanted their captain to survive, but they didn't want the detestable barbarians to learn his secret. It would pose a grave threat to their homeland.

They couldn't imagine what would happen if the barbarians at Source Gathering Rank all gained Lower Rank strength.

"No. You barbarians don't deserve to know this secret. As for being spared, I don't want that anymore. The only reason I'm still alive is to kill every barbarian here."

Master's words were cold, like ice that had never melted in ten thousand years, chilling them to the bone.

"In that case, great warrior Kuro, cut off all four of his limbs. I'll have my people take him back. With the help of our tribe's shaman, I'll make him talk. Then I'll tell you."

Dark looked at Kuro and smiled.

"I hope you'll keep your word, esteemed Lord Dark."

Kuro bared his teeth and turned toward Master, his eyes brimming with bloodlust.

"Come on! Let me see just how strong a Lower Rank barbarian like you really is!"

Master roared, his fighting spirit surging. He vowed to bathe Moonlight in barbarian blood!

Beneath the Ice Sculpture Tree, Aurelian's face had grown deathly pale.

Blood continued to drip slowly from the wound on his hand.

His body was cold and his mind groggy. Aurelian didn't know how much longer he could hold on.

But he continued gazing up at the egg, which had begun shaking violently after he fed it his blood. Now, a brilliant purple light enveloped it.

"Just hold on a little longer."

He gritted his teeth. He had come this far; he could only grit them and press on.

But if he kept expending his true blood like this, the purity of his bloodline might decline, directly affecting his potential in the future.

For Aurelian, who desperately needed strength, that was hardly a good thing.

Jeanne stood behind Aurelian, her expression conflicted. Her eyes held a trace of emotion. Perhaps she admired his determination, or perhaps she couldn't bear to watch him continue.

The Child of Frost's egg on the Ice Sculpture Tree shook violently. The trunk that nurtured it kept channeling powerful magic into it.

It trembled, its crystal-clear shell shining with a brilliant light like the stars.